KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Occupational Safety division at the Air Force Safety Center is responsible for establishing safety policies for people and use of equipment to ensure that Airmen and Guardians don’t get hurt, sick or too stressed while doing their jobs. The goal of the division is to make the conditions of the workplace safe and secure so any person coming to work can do their job and return home safely.
Occupational Safety is unique in that it affects every Airman and Guardian, while other safety disciplines often cover specialized areas such as aviation, space, and weapons activities. Occupational Safety contributes to the Department of the Air Force’s mission readiness and lethality by establishing instructions and manuals for safe practices in all ground-based activities and professions. The division also leads safety investigations for all ground, motor vehicle, afloat and off-duty military mishaps.
The very first ground safety program was created in response to Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, General of the Army Air Forces, becoming aware that many of the hospitalized injuries sustained were due to jeep accidents rather than from combat. The result was the creation of the first HQ Air Force Gound Safety Office and selection of the first Chief of Ground Safety.
“In 1943, Arnold visited hospitalized Army Air Forces crews in North Africa,” said William Walkowiak, Air and Space Forces Occupational Safety chief. “He realized preserving lives had a profound impact on mission capability and this prompted him to establish the first ground safety program. On November 1, 1943, a committee of 10 officers convened for a five-day conference resulting in a report that was presented to the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Personnel. The outcome was the beginning of our current Ground Safety program.”
With a population of more than 670,000, according to a 2023 assessment, Ground Safety must meet a vast array of needs for all active-duty, Guard and Reserve and civilian members, while adhering to the regulations of the Department of Defense, the Air Force, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. As part of a broad effort to better align with OSHA terminology, in 2018, Air Force Ground Safety officially changed its name to Occupational Safety. This alignment with OSHA more accurately reflects the full scope of safety responsibilities beyond ground operations to also encompass flightline, office, motor vehicle, seasonal, workplace, maintenance, and even off-duty safety. The name change also allowed better collaboration with other organizations such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Safety Council, and the American Society of Safety Professionals.
The division regularly partners with OSHA on safety campaigns such as National Safety Stand-Down Day to Prevent Falls in Construction, Safe + Sound Week, and the Heat Illness Prevention Campaign. They use OSHA materials and make them available for use on installations through electronic distribution. The division also leads the DAF in the 101 Critical Days of Summer each year, bringing awareness to one of the deadliest times of the year.
The division supports mishap prevention as the Office of Primary Responsibility for DAFI 91-202, the Department of the Air Force Mishap Prevention Program. This instruction contains the safety management system and all mishap prevention programmatic guidance and requirements. Along with programmatic requirements, they are also responsible for overseeing three of the six Department of Defense mishap categories. These mishaps comprise about 60% of the estimated 7,000 total annual DAF mishaps.
The comprehensive standards in the division-managed DAFMAN 91-203, Air Force Occupational Safety, Fire, and Health Standards provide a risk analysis baseline from which commanders can take known risk when operational imperatives require a deviation. Policies and rules determine guidelines for operational tasks like wearing helmets or gloves while performing sensitive jobs, having fire exits and first aid kits, mitigating slips and falls, and training people to lift heavy items properly. All safety measures are important but more consequential guidelines such as making sure machinery is safe to use and preventing exposure to harmful chemicals require strenuous oversight. Encouraging regular breaks to avoid fatigue is another measure taken to prioritize health. These recommendations, when addressed, ensure the highest level of readiness for personnel and equipment.
The DAF follows OSHA rules for most operations, but there are times when a military-unique operation may not allow full compliance. In those cases, commanders are charged to make those operations as safe as practicable.
The Occupational Safety Division is also responsible for managing the DAF Traffic Safety program. This includes developing guidance and educating Airmen and Guardians on traffic safety topics such as, motor vehicles, motorcycles, tactical vehicles. Motor vehicle related mishaps are the leading cause of preventable deaths within the Department of the Air Force.
Occupational Safety oversees and facilitates the risk management program, which is in DAFI 90-802, Risk Management. This is a special 90-series Management instruction instead of a 91-series Safety instruction because while proper risk management can reduce the risk of mishaps, it is not limited to just safety. All functional areas and operations are required to use deliberate risk management in planning and real-time risk management during mission execution. At work and home, smart risk management serves as the foundation for the DAF safety program and personal choices while off duty.
Along with policies and rules for operations, inspections are in place to ensure the safest spaces possible. While there are a variety of safety inspections, the most common is for workplace safety. In the DAF, workplace safety inspections are required at least annually, but the actual frequency can vary based on the type of workplace, risk level, and specific Air or Space Force guidance.
High-risk areas such as maintenance hangars, industrial shops and flightlines may have semi-annual or quarterly inspections. Work areas that require even more frequent inspections may receive spot inspections, which are unannounced checks that can occur at any time to ensure ongoing compliance.
Operating in new spaces requires serious safety consideration and Occupational Safety ensures safety standards are met. There are initial inspections completed for new work centers before the organizations accept the facility and operations begin. Occupational Safety establishes sound safety features in new systems, particularly for ground support equipment. DAF safety standards incorporate national consensus standards and cover a wide variety of topics such as electrical safety, fall protection, and eyewear impact protection. The initial and recurrent inspections along with a computer-based module, where all OSHA activities are tracked, reduce the chances of more serious repeats or willful violations for similar incidents across all workplaces.
"Our mission isn't just about checking boxes; it's about safeguarding our most valuable asset: our people,” said Walkowiak. “Every single Airman and Guardian deserves to operate in a safe environment. The work we do in occupational safety ensures their well-being, their readiness, and ultimately, the success of the Air and Space Forces."
The Occupational Safety Division plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and safety of all personnel within the DAF by establishing comprehensive safety policies and conducting regular inspections. This effort ultimately fosters a secure work environment that enhances mission readiness and protects the well-being of every Airman and Guardian. By maintaining a collaborative relationship with OSHA and adapting to evolving safety standards, the division underscores its commitment to creating a workplace where individuals can perform their duties safely and return home in good health.
Visit https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/ for more information about the Occupational Safety Division and their safety standards.